Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) voiced support for Karnataka student Bibi Muskan Khan who rose to prominence during the hijab protests and said hijab or ‘pardah’ is also part of the culture India, the IANS news agency reported.
The Muslim wing RSS – Muslim Rashtriya Manch – backed Bibi Muskan’s call to wear a hijab and condemned the saffron frenzy surrounding her.
Speaking to reporters, Anil Singh, Avadh prant sanchalak of Muslim Rashtriya Manch, said, “She is a daughter and a sister of our community. We support her in this hour of crisis.
In his statement, Muslim Rashtriya Manch said Hindu culture teaches respect for women and those who chanted “Jai Shri Ram” and tried to terrorize the girl were wrong.
“The daughter has the constitutional freedom to wear a hijab,” the statement read. If she violated the campus dress code, the institution has the right to take action against her.
“The behavior of the boys wearing saffron scarves and chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ is unacceptable. They defamed Hindu culture,” the RSS leader said.
“Hijab or purdah is also a part of Indian culture and Hindu women too practice purdah as per their choice. And the same condition applies to Bibi Muskan,” Singh said.
“Our sarsangh chalak said, Muslims are our brothers and the DNA of both communities is the same. I call on members of the Hindu community to accept Muslims as their brothers,” Singh added.
